文章基本信息

标题：The Divine Attributes.
作者：Gillis, Chester
期刊名称：Theological Studies
印刷版ISSN：0040-5639
出版年度：2004
期号：September
语种：English
出版社：Sage Publications, Inc.
摘要：In the preface, the series' editor indicates that the books in this series are aimed at a middle ground "between elementary texts and pioneering works" (vii). This work fits that description. While not breaking new ground, it certainly is not a text for beginners. Even competently trained philosophers will have to give the book a very deliberate read. The dense arguments rehearse much philosophical ground. Hoffman and Rosenkrantz weave a tapestry of arguments for God, all with a view toward constructing a credible contemporary case that builds on the contributions of Western philosophy from the Greeks to the present. For scholars, the book presents a thorough and careful review. For students, it introduces them to the complexity of philosophical argument for God. Anticipating uninitiated readers, the authors have provided a well-crafted glossary of terms, which they identify in bold type at the term's first occurrence in the text. As a further aid to students, a brief bibliography follows each chapter.
关键词：Books

The Divine Attributes.

Gillis, Chester

THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES. By Joshua Hoffman and Gary S. Rosenkrantz. Exploring the Philosophy of Religion Series. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell, 2002. Pp. viii + 204. $66.95.

In the preface, the series' editor indicates that the books in this series are aimed at a middle ground "between elementary texts and pioneering works" (vii). This work fits that description. While not breaking new ground, it certainly is not a text for beginners. Even competently trained philosophers will have to give the book a very deliberate read. The dense arguments rehearse much philosophical ground. Hoffman and Rosenkrantz weave a tapestry of arguments for God, all with a view toward constructing a credible contemporary case that builds on the contributions of Western philosophy from the Greeks to the present. For scholars, the book presents a thorough and careful review. For students, it introduces them to the complexity of philosophical argument for God. Anticipating uninitiated readers, the authors have provided a well-crafted glossary of terms, which they identify in bold type at the term's first occurrence in the text. As a further aid to students, a brief bibliography follows each chapter.

The book analyzes attributes commonly associated with God: substantiality, incorporeality, necessary existence, eternality, omniscience, goodness, virtue and morality, and omnipotence. It provides a rational theology to determine if the concept of God is coherent. H. and R. conclude that it is coherent and then (prudently) defer on whether the concept is instantiated. Nevertheless, they rehearse the classical ontological arguments for the existence of God. Often they provide examples that illustrate difficult philosophical concepts, but unless one grasps the concept clearly, the examples do not clarify matters.

In the end, proving the existence of God has not been convincing in the past, and this remains the case. However, a careful, rational analysis of how one might go about the task is always welcomed. The text will best serve graduate students in the discipline.

CHESTER GILLIS Georgetown University, Washington